Various masaail of Business and Dealings

Q: One benefit of being a client of a certain bank is that you are able to download an application from the internet called the entertainer. This application is separate from the bank and gives you the ability to purchase items at a discount rate. Being able to download this application is not dependent on any amount that you spend with the bank but is a perk of having a bank account with them.

Note. A person may purchase the application for around R500 per year on their own. If they are clients of the bank they can download the application for free. Please advise if this is permissible to download and use as a client of the bank.

Q: I want to start a school where I also want to educate poor students who cannot afford education. They will be given admission on the basis of a contract saying that in future when they start earning they will give 10% of their earning to me and in the case where they don't earn, they don't have to give anything. Is this permissible?

Q: There are some online stores which offer a subscription to their program for a monthly fee. Among the benefits of being a member is that one will receive a discounted price if he has to purchase any item from that store. Is it permissible for one to take up such a subscription?

Q: Are websites such as http://waqfeya.com/ permissible to use. Where they might have uploaded a book without consent of the publisher/author?

Q: At tills in stores, there are speed points that accept debit and credit cards. Will we get sin if the customer uses his credit card and says that he wants his payment to be budget, not straight, so the bank will charge him interest?

Q: My father runs a wine shop. He asked me to do some calculations in his account work. I am an unmarried girl. What should I do?

Q: I earn a living through selling items at auctions. Sometimes, I bid on my own goods on auction, or get someone else to bid on my goods, in order to raise the price of my items. Since the bidding commences at a low price, I fear that I may suffer a loss if I do not do so. Is this permissible in Islam?

Q: I am an oncologist (cancer specialist). I often have a situation where a patient comes to me in the advanced stages of cancer. According to my experience and knowledge, such a patient may have the life expectancy of only three months (for example).

Ethically, I am bound to inform the patient or their family of the situation. If I do not do so, I can be held liable for not informing them of the seriousness of the situation. However, I understand that this is against the Islamic teaching of giving hope to the patient and not causing them distress and anxiety. Furthermore, there have been certain cases, against the norm, where patients have ‘pulled through’ and surpassed the life expectancy period.

Nevertheless, I sometimes feel that it may be beneficial to indirectly indicate to the patient that their end may be near, as it will prompt them to set their affairs in order before passing away.

What is the correct understanding in this regard?

Q: I am 18 years old and will be completing my schooling this year. I am considering joining the army after I matriculate. Initially, after my training is complete, I will serve a certain amount of time in the army and may even be called upon to fight for the country (as is happening currently, where South Africa is fighting in certain other African countries).

My idea is that after some time, when I have sufficient training and experience, I will leave the army and become a mercenary (a soldier for hire). There is a great demand for mercenaries, especially in dangerous countries such as Iraq and other war-ridden countries like the African countries suffering from war lords, etc, and this profession is extremely lucrative.

Is this profession permissible in Islam?

Q: Many companies state at the bottom of their invoice "goods remain the property of the above company until fully paid for". What is the status of the goods and is such a condition permissible?